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Bebop Spoken There

Wayne Escoffery: "My philosophy is keeping one foot in the past and one foot in the future" - DownBeatMarch 2018.

Scott Bradlee: “When audiences hear it [Sweet Child O’ Mine] there’s a lightbulb moment when they recognise the song’s hook, even though it’s in a different context. They’re so used to hearing it one way that it causes some cognitive dissonance. If it’s a song they’ve disparaged in the past and they now find themselves liking it, that’s really interesting to me” – DownBeat March 2018.

Wednesday, March 02, 2016

Alice Grace Quartet @ The Cherry Tree

Alice began with Days of Wine and Roses whilst I began with a bottle of Black Sheep and homemade black pudding, hen's egg and tomato.

In this year of Grace, 2016, the lady does seem to pop up with an amazing regularity in these pages, I'm pleased to say, and justifiably so. Tonight was a tribute to Sarah Vaughan although, in truth, it could have been a tribute to Ella, Anita, Peggy or any of the others who work the same side of the street - 'cept Alice Grace does incorporate some of Ms Vaughan's more endearing mannerisms.

Ain't Misbehavin'; My Funny Valentine; Body and Soul. Gilligan's solo on the latter number, proof of how sensitive an accompanist he can be when the chemistry's right. Lullaby of Birdland swung along nicely with an excellent chorus of double bass and wire (nylon?) brushes making love.

At Long Last Love coincided with the arrival of my 6oz Bistro Rump Steak with traditional garnish and fries. Alice's garnish was less traditional with juicy modern chords but still cutting the mustard,

But Not for Me and If I Knew Then What I Know Now rounded off the first set,

A good first set and a decent sized audience although only a couple of folks that I recognised from other gigs.

Apple Strudel with Custard set me up for the second set and a surprise!

On a Sarah Vaughan night, what was Britney Spears doing here? I don't know but, listening to Alice singing, Oops! I've Done it Again, made me think that, had Sassy still been around, she maybe would have recorded it!

Cheek to Cheek; Mean to Me (the body and hand language an object lesson for those singers who do too little or too much); I Didn't Know What Time it Was; Honeysuckle Rose; The Man I Love; It Could Happen to You; Nearness of You and, finally, an uptempo All of Me.

Where else in Newcastle can one merge such good food with such good music?

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Lance

About this blog - contact details.

Bebop Spoken Here -- Here, being the north-east of England -- centred in the blues heartland of Newcastle and reaching down to the Tees Delta and looking upwards to the Land of the Kilt.Not a very original title, I know; not even an accurate one as my taste, whilst centred around the music of Bird and Diz, extends in many directions and I listen to everything from King Oliver to Chick Corea and beyond. Not forgetting the Great American Songbook the contents of which has provided the inspiration for much great jazz and quality popular singing for round about a century.The idea of this blog is for you to share your thoughts and pass on your comments on discs, gigs, jazz - music in general. If you've been to a gig/concert or heard a CD that knocked you sideways please share your views with us. Tell us about your favourites, your memories, your dislikes.Lance (Who wishes it to be known that he is not responsible for postings other than his own and that he's not always responsible for them.)